Phish fan fears forces Monticello to close schools

Tuesday

May 24, 2011 at 12:14 PMMay 24, 2011 at 12:18 PM

BETHEL - Phish has closed Sullivan County’s largest school district.

Monticello schools have decided to close Thursday and Friday – the Friday date specifically to avoid problems on 17B when throngs of people are anticipated for a three-day Phish festival at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.

“We have kids in Bethel and we have lots of teachers and staff,” Interim Superintendent Ed Rhine said. “We would have been adding to the problem.”

Rhine said that the district was contractually obligated to return two snow days and the Friday seemed like an obvious choice.

County officials are predicting at least 17,000 people at the concerts and potentially thousands more during the Memorial Day weekend.

He said he met with the county and town officials, who are predicting heavy traffic beginning Friday.